Gun-barrel.



0. A. MAYNARD.

GUN BARREL.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 8. 1915. RENEWED MAR. 13.1917.

Patented Jan. 7, 1919.

' TE s'r ORNAN A. MAYNARD, 0F GREENWICH, OHIO.

GUN-BARREL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. '7, 1919.

Application filed January 8, 1915, Serial No. 1,128. Renewed March 13, 1917. Serial No. 154,596.

4 T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ORNAN A. MAYNARD, citizen of the United States, residing at Greenwich, in the county of Huron and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gun-Barrels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rifled fireanns and has special reference to the barrel thereof and the manner of constructing the same.

The invention consists in enlarging the bore of the rifle barrel for a predetermined distance between the breech and the muzzle.

The object of the invention is to produce a rifled fire-arm which will enable a pro jectile discharged therefrom to obtain a greater velocity and penetrating power without a greater amount of explosive power being applied and also for the attainment of better accuracy.

In the drawing I have illustrated a rifle barrel which may represent a barrel used in connection with a rifle, revolver or even a cannon if so desired.

In practice the enlargement 3 of the interior of the rifle barrel 1 will begin at a point 6 one-half inch or more forward of the chamber but not exceeding three-fourths of the whole length of the barrel from the breech and end at a point 5 approximately three times the caliber of the bore from the muzzle. The drawing illustrates the enlargement 3 in extremely exaggerated proportion for the purpose of clearness only. This enlargement 3 would probably not exceed one or two one thousandths of an inch in rifles of the smaller calibers, the riflings at this point will be freed or in other words widened and deepened.

By constructing a barrel 1 in this manner the projectile discharged from the breech has an opportunity to travel the distance of the first unenlarged portion as indicated by reference numeral 2. After having traveled for this distance the projectile reaches the enlarged portion 3 of the barrel 1 and consequently nearly all of the friction is relieved, thus allowing the projectile to travel much faster and the velocity of the projectile is increased in proportion to the decreasing of the friction at this point or portion 3 of the barrel 1. The approximate amount of enlargement can be best realized by the following:

A projectile inserted at the breech of the barrel could be forced through the barrel by a suitable rod and sufficient pressure but when the projectile thus forced through the barrel reaches the enlarged portion 3 of said barrel 1 the projectile may be forced through this enlarged portion 3 with less portion 3 it may slide through that portion more easily than it would do if said first portion 2 were not small enough to so size said bullet or projectile, and secondly the resistance to the bullet or projectile offered by the friction in first portion 2 is conducive to a higher initial pressure and therefore causes a better combustion of the explosive, which in turn secures a greater volume of gases behind the bullet or projectile, giving greater force and penetratincr power to same. However there is quite a .wid e range of effectiveness of the enlarged portion. As in the case of a thirty caliber rifle using a cartridge containing fifty grains of powder, the enlarged portion 3 may begin close to the chamber, and the large charge of powder will effect a high initial pressure and a sufficient volume of gases will be generated to secure a quite effective result. Vhile in the case of a .303 caliber rifle using a cartridge containing only nine grains of powder. It is obvious that the volume of gases from so small a charge of powder must be small, as compared with the cartridge previously mentioned, and as friction or resistance to the movement of thebullet along the barrel 'is effective to secure higher pressure and in turn higher pressure causes greater heat, and more rapid and complete combustion of the explosive, and to the end that such an effect may be attained as far as possible it becomes advisable, to begin the enlarged portion 3 well forward in the barrel of rifles using this and similar ammunition.

As hereinabov'e explained, the enlarged portion 3 extends to a point 5 within the space of three times the caliber of the bore from the muzzle of the gun barrel 1 from which point the usual or normal diameter of the interior of said gun barrel is again em- I CI! ployed. By employing the normal diame- 'ter at the muzzle 4 of the gun barrell the sufficient to more than very slightly retard the motion of the projectile thus allowing a much increased velocity and greater penetrating power to the projectile without employing more explosive power in the shell or in thebreech of the gun barrel.

Having thus described my invention as it appears at the present time to be best adapted for the purpose intended I do not wish to be limited to the exact details or proportions, distances and diameters set forth as these may be modified without departing from this invention.

WVhat I claim as new is:

1. A rifled firearm barrel having a bore of normal diameter at the breechand at the muzzle, andan enlarged intermediate diameter extending to within three times the caliber of the bore from the muzzle.

2. A rifled firearm barrel comprising an enlarged interior diameter between the muzzle and the chamber, said enlargement eX- length of the barrel thereof.

tending more than one-sixth of the whole 3. A rifled fire-arm barrel having a bore of normal diameter at the breech and at the muzzle and an enlarged intermediate diametcr not less than one-fourth the whole length of the barrel in length and ending within the distance of three times the caliber of the bore from the muzzle.

4. A shot gun barrel of the type set forth comprising an enlarged interior diameter,

said enlargement commencing at a point beyond the chamber, and continuing forward to within. three-fourths of an inch of the muzzle of said shot purpose set forth.

5. A shot-gun barrel comprising an enlargedinterior diameter between the muzzle and the chamber, said enlargement extending more than one sixth of the whole length of the barrel thereof.

In testimony whereof, aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ORNAN A. -MAYNARD.

' Witnesses:

D. C. REED, JO N A. BOMMHARDT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, 1 Washington, D. c."

gun barrel, for the 

